The Occoneechee Mountain Challenge is an inaugural trail race organized by the Hillsborough Running Club. Course Highlights: 1. Race will start and finish on the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Track 2. Runners will then run on the beautiful Riverwalk (part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail), past the Occaneechi Indian Village, and through …
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The Occoneechee Mountain Challenge is an inaugural trail race organized by the Hillsborough Running Club.
Course Highlights:
1. Race will start and finish on the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Track
2. Runners will then run on the beautiful Riverwalk (part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail), past the Occaneechi Indian Village, and through Gold Park.
3. The middle third of this race will take you around and up to the top of Occoneechee Mountain, the highest point in Orange County.
In January, this could be a tricky trail. There will be almost 700 ft of elevation gain in the middle third, and the trail has rocks, roots, steps, mud, everything you’re looking for in a great trail course.
The route is entirely off the public roads (it crosses one road). Time limit is 2.5 hours (15 min/mile pace). Run/walkers are welcome, or if you want, you can run the flat sections, and walk the trail section. You will not be able to walk the whole course though.
We plan to provide chili, bread, coffee and other warming sustenance at the finish line.
No shirts – but we plan to provide warm beanie hats at bib pick up and a medal to all challengers that complete the course.
Donations made when you register will go toward the upkeep of the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Track. The the Hillsborough Running Club (HRC) is a non-profit organization, any overall event proceeds (from race registration fees and after race costs) will be distributed to local charities and worthy organizations.
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Mountain Challenege
The first and last 3 or miles of the course was greenway and mostly flat. The middle of the race is where the mountain challenge happened. Roughly 800 feet of … MORE
The first and last 3 or miles of the course was greenway and mostly flat. The middle of the race is where the mountain challenge happened. Roughly 800 feet of gain for the whole course with most of that being in the middle. The mountain trail varied between gravel, wooden steps and technical trail. Lots of roots, rocks and mud (it had recently rained).